National Blog

Restricting Drones Over America

As Cato's Gene Healy pointed out in an op-ed yesterday titled "Game of Drones," the Senate Armed Services Committee recently called for drones returning from Afghanistan to be used"freely and routinely" in U.S. airspace.

This disturbing trend towards government engaging in warrantless surveillance and intelligence gathering must be stopped. That's why in response, Senator Paul has introduced "The Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2012" to prohibit the unwarranted use of drones by the government to protect American's privacy.

"Like other tools used to collect information in law enforcement, in order to use drones a warrant needs to be issued. Americans going about their everyday lives should not be treated like criminals or terrorists and have their rights infringed upon by military tactics."

The release went on to describe the provisions of the bill as follows:

1. Prohibits the use of drones by the government except when a warrant is issued for its use in accordance with the requirements of the Fourth Amendment.

2. Includes the following exceptions:

1) patrol of national borders;

2) when law enforcement possesses reasonable suspicion that under particular circumstances, swift drone action is necessary to prevent "imminent danger to life;"

3) high risk of a terrorist attack

3. Allows any person to sue the government for violating this Act.

4. Specifies that no evidence obtained or collected in violation of this Act can be used/admissible as evidence in a criminal, civil, or regulatory action.